PROCLAMATION

Blue Heart Cultural Awareness Week
June 21st to July 1st, 2026

WHEREAS the Town of Cochrane is situated upon the traditional territory of the Cree, Ojibway and Algonquin peoples of Treaty 9, and the Council acknowledges with gratitude the enduring stewardship of the Taykwa Tagamou Nation;

AND WHEREAS Lake Commando, historically known as the “Little Lake Camping Grounds,” has served for centuries as the central meeting point and the “Blue Heart” or our community;

AND WHEREAS our town is built upon the three foundational pillars of Indigenous sovereignty, Francophone culture, and Anglophone industrial pioneering;

AND WHEREAS the metaphor of our “shared shores” provides a powerful vision for community unity and the reconciliation of our shared history;

AND WHEREAS the Council seeks to foster the social, economic, and environmental well-being of all residents as empowered by the Municipal Act, 2001;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Cochrane officially declares the week of June 21st to July 1st annually as “Blue Heart Cultural Awareness Week”;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Lake Commando be officially recognized as the primary catalyst for community unity, and that the Commando Pavilion shall serve as the hub for all flagship activities during this week;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Town of Cochrane commits to collaborating with Taykwa Tagamou Nation, the Ininew Friendship Centre, ACFO Temiskaming-Cochrane, and Le Rayon Franco de Cochrane to develop programming that:
• Educates our citizens on the harsh and beautiful truths of our shared history;
• Celebrates the artistic, linguistic, and spiritual contributions of all three pillars;
• Empowers our youth to see our tricultural identity as a source of regional pride and innovation;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this declaration be recorded as a legacy document, ensuring that future generations continue to honor the shared shores of the Blue Heart.

Dated this 19th day of June 2026.

Mayor Peter Politis